A Foreign Office interpreter has been accused of running a Chinese propaganda website from Britain as part of a 'veiled global network' of Communist Party sites. Chen Shirong acted as an interpreter for Chinese presidents coming to the UK on state visits as far back as 1999.
![[Mr Shirong (pictured) has been accused of running a website that formed part of China's 'propaganda' network while he had access to the Foreign Office in Whitehall]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/15/08/93163099-14194467-image-a-2_1734249938050.jpg)
Mr Shirong even sat two places away from President Xi Jinping at a lunch in Manchester in 2015, which former Prime Minister David Cameron was also present. The interpreter also worked for the BBC World Service as a journalist and commentator on Chinese affairs.
![[Chen Shirong acted as an interpreter for Chinese presidents coming to the UK on state visits as far back as 1999. Pictured: The Foreign Office building in Whitehall]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/15/08/93163109-14194467-image-a-3_1734250000558.jpg)
However, a report due to be published next week by the UK-China Transparency charity accuses Mr Shirong of running a website that formed part of China's 'propaganda' network while he had access to the Foreign Office. He denies the claim. It comes amid heightened concerns over Chinese Communist Party penetration into Britain's government and Royal Family following allegations that an alleged Chinese spy formed a close relationship with Prince Andrew.
Mr Shirong is the sole owner of Foremost4Media, which Microsoft flagged after alleging it forms part of a 'veiled global network of Chinese Communist Party news websites' in 2023. Microsoft's threat intelligence department included it in a report on 'digital threats from East Asia', The Telegraph reports.
Chen Shirong (left) sat two places away from President Xi Jinping (centre) at a lunch in Manchester in 2015, which former Prime Minister David Cameron was also present. Mr Shirong (pictured) has been accused of running a website that formed part of China's 'propaganda' network while he had access to the Foreign Office in Whitehall.
